Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
-
- Civil and Environmental Engineering (33)
- Engineering Mechanics (26)
- Engineering Science and Materials (26)
- Electrical and Computer Engineering (23)
- Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering (18)
-
- Civil Engineering (18)
- Materials Science and Engineering (15)
- Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering (15)
- Environmental Engineering (14)
- Mechanical Engineering (11)
- Industrial Engineering (8)
- Chemical Engineering (6)
- Computer Engineering (6)
- Automotive Engineering (2)
- Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (2)
- Electromagnetics and Photonics (1)
- Power and Energy (1)
- Keyword
-
- Thermography (3)
- Adsorption (2)
- Algae (2)
- Anaerobic (2)
- Automation (2)
-
- Biomaterials (2)
- Case Study (2)
- Cushioning (2)
- Energy Harvesting (2)
- Fiber (2)
- Foam (2)
- Heart valve (2)
- Laser (2)
- Liquefaction (2)
- Manufacturing (2)
- Nanoparticle (2)
- Plutonium (2)
- Protein adsorption (2)
- Reductive dechlorination (2)
- Requirements (2)
- SCDOT (2)
- Sediment (2)
- Sorption (2)
- Sustainability (2)
- Tissue Engineering (2)
- Tissue engineering (2)
- AC Motor Drives (1)
- AFM (atomic force microscopy) (1)
- AHP (1)
- ASR (1)
- Publication
- Publication Type
Articles 1 - 30 of 162
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
An Investigation Of Metaheuristics Using Path- Relinking On The Quadratic Assignment Problem, Thashika Rupasinghe
An Investigation Of Metaheuristics Using Path- Relinking On The Quadratic Assignment Problem, Thashika Rupasinghe
All Dissertations
The Quadratic Assignment Problem (QAP) is a widely researched, yet complex, combinatorial optimization problem that is applicable in modeling many real-world problems. Specifically, many optimization problems are formulated as QAPs. To resolve QAPs, the recent trends have been to use metaheuristics rather than exact or heuristic methods, and many researchers have found that the use of hybrid metaheuristics is actually more effective. A newly proposed hybrid metaheuristic is path relinking (PR), which is used to generate solutions by combining two or more reference solutions. In this dissertation, we investigated these diversification and intensification mechanisms using QAP. To satisfy the extensive …
Novel Vascular Grafts Based On Polyphenol-Stabilized Acellular Tissue Scaffolds, Ting-Hsien Chuang
Novel Vascular Grafts Based On Polyphenol-Stabilized Acellular Tissue Scaffolds, Ting-Hsien Chuang
All Dissertations
The Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The most common form of CVDs is occlusion of blood flow thus limiting blood supply to specific tissues or organs. Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of coronary heart disease and stroke, which were responsible for more than 25% of deaths in 2004.
The demand for vascular graft is huge. In United States alone, approximately 500,000 coronary artery bypass graft surgeries are performed annually. Synthetic polymers such as Dacron and ePTFE have been successfully applied in large diameter blood vessel prosthesis; however, for small diameter (inner …
Effect Of Impurities On Performance Of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Components, Kitiya Hongsirikarn
Effect Of Impurities On Performance Of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Components, Kitiya Hongsirikarn
All Dissertations
It is believed that proton–exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are going to be exploited as power generation devices for stationary, automotive, and portable applications in the near future because of their high performance and environmental friendliness. Up to the present, wide spread utilization of PEMFCs is not viable because of their cost and durability in the presence of fuel and oxidant stream impurities. These impurities include NH3, hydrocarbons, CO, CO2, halogenated compounds, cations, etc. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of these harmful contaminants containing in the H2 fuel stream on …
A Self Organization-Based Optical Flow Estimator With Gpu Implementation, Manish Shiralkar
A Self Organization-Based Optical Flow Estimator With Gpu Implementation, Manish Shiralkar
All Dissertations
This work describes a parallelizable optical flow estimator that uses a modified batch version of
the Self Organizing Map (SOM). This gradient-based estimator handles the ill-posedness in motion
estimation via a novel combination of regression and a self organization strategy.
The aperture problem is explicitly modeled using an algebraic framework
that partitions motion estimates obtained from regression into two sets, one (set Hc) with estimates
with high confidence and another (set Hp) with low confidence estimates. The self organization step
uses a uniquely designed pair of training set (Q=Hc) and the initial weights set …
Circuit Modules For Broadband Cmos Six-Port Systems, Chaojiang Li
Circuit Modules For Broadband Cmos Six-Port Systems, Chaojiang Li
All Dissertations
This dissertation investigates four circuit modules used in a CMOS integrated six-port measurement system. The first circuit module is a wideband power source generator, which can be implemented with a voltage controlled ring oscillator. The second circuit module is a low-power 0.5 GHz - 20.5 GHz power detector with an embedded amplifier and a wideband quasi T-coil matching network. The third circuit module is a six-port circuit, which can be implemented with distributed or lumped- lement techniques. The fourth circuit module is the phase sifter used as calibration loads. The theoretical analysis, circuit design, simulated or experimental verifications of each …
Packet Error Rate Predictive Model For Sensor Radios On Fast Rotating Structures, Lei Tang
Packet Error Rate Predictive Model For Sensor Radios On Fast Rotating Structures, Lei Tang
All Dissertations
Wireless sensing technologies have raised widespread interests in the applications for monitoring fast rotating or moving machinery structures in manufacturing environments. Over the past five years, a few wireless sensor systems have been implemented and proven to feasibly work under fast rotation conditions. However, few of these studies evaluated data transmission performance of the wireless communication systems. Although the manufacturing environments are known to be harsh for wireless communication, in many cases, an excellent data throughput is critical for such systems. Conventional statistical methods for studying wireless communication channels are not sufficient in this specific field.
This dissertation presents systematic …
Predictive Energy Management In Connected Vehicles: Utilizing Route Information Preview For Energy Saving, Chen Zhang
Predictive Energy Management In Connected Vehicles: Utilizing Route Information Preview For Energy Saving, Chen Zhang
All Dissertations
This dissertation formulates algorithms that use preview information of road terrain and traffic flow for reducing energy use and emissions of modern vehicles with conventional or hybrid powertrains. Energy crisis, long term energy deficit, and more restrictive environmental protection policies require developing more efficient and cleaner vehicle powertrain systems. An alternative to making advanced technology engines or electrifying the vehicle powertrain is utilizing ambient terrain and traffic information in the energy management of vehicles, a topic which has not been emphasized in the past. Today's advances in vehicular telematics and advances in GIS (Geographic Information System), GPS (Global Positioning Systems), …
Modeling Microbial And Nutrient Dynamics In Zero-Discharge Aquaculture Systems, Kendall Kirk
Modeling Microbial And Nutrient Dynamics In Zero-Discharge Aquaculture Systems, Kendall Kirk
All Dissertations
A finite element, finite difference model was developed to predict nutrient and microbial dynamics in recirculating aquaculture systems. Total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite, nitrate, chemical oxygen demand, and dissolved oxygen concentrations are predicted in addition to growth and decay of algae, Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter, denitrifying heterotrophs, and aerobic heterotrophs. Inputs to the model include temperature, photosynthetically available radiation, feed application rate, pH, aeration/mixing energy, water exchange configuration, water exchange rate, tilapia biomass, and dissolved oxygen concentration. Up to 10 exchanged units may be included, user-definable as continuous stirred tank reactors or sequencing batch reactors. Demonstration of the model's utility was demonstrated through …
Evaluation Of Factors That Modulate Cellular Adipogenesis For Breast Tissue Engineering Strategies, Cheryl Gomillion
Evaluation Of Factors That Modulate Cellular Adipogenesis For Breast Tissue Engineering Strategies, Cheryl Gomillion
All Dissertations
It is estimated that this year more than 200,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Treatment for most occurrences of breast cancer will often include surgical removal of the tumorigenic tissue, resulting in a soft tissue defect within the subcutaneous tissue of the skin. Post-surgical reconstruction methods are often sought by patients to restore the aesthetic function of the breast via cellular or non-cellular methods; however, because of complications associated with currently used methods for breast reconstruction, researchers are investigating tissue engineering methods to produce viable autologous adipose tissue for breast reconstruction.
Previous research in …
Modeling Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Conventional Wastewater Treatment Plants In South Carolina, Andrea Hicks
Modeling Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Conventional Wastewater Treatment Plants In South Carolina, Andrea Hicks
All Theses
Wastewater treatment is an essential part of life in the urbanized world. As global climate change becomes a more pressing issue, the greenhouse gas emissions created through wastewater treatment will become a more prominent concern. Tertiary treatment will likely be standard for wastewater treatment plants in the near future, and therefore must be included in a model of greenhouse gas emissions. Also, the geographic location of a WWTP will change the mix of power types (e.g., coal, nuclear, biomass) used to run the plant. Although GHG emissions from the waste sector are small compared to the emissions of the United …
Characterization Of Anti-Proteolytic And Anti-Proliferative Activities Of Pentagalloylglucose; Its Potential Application As A Therapeutic Agent In Vascular Diseases, Chaitra Cheluvaraju
Characterization Of Anti-Proteolytic And Anti-Proliferative Activities Of Pentagalloylglucose; Its Potential Application As A Therapeutic Agent In Vascular Diseases, Chaitra Cheluvaraju
All Dissertations
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of mortality in the United States and will cost around $500 billion this year alone. Elevated proteolytic activity, increased proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells are hallmarks of atherosclerosis, stenosis and aortic aneurysms. These diseases often manifest the transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells into osteoblast-like cells followed by deposition of hydroxyapatite–like mineral in the arterial walls.
Currently, there are no standard treatments available for vascular calcification or aneurysms. Atherosclerosis treatment options are limited to statins while balloon angioplasty and stenting – surgical procedures for stenosis, often end in restenosis. Therefore, we …
A Meta-Analysis Of Human Factors Analysis And Classification System Causal Factors: Establishing Benchmarking Standards And Human Error Latent Failure Pathway Associations In Various Domains, Katherine Berry
All Dissertations
Many models of accident investigation have been created and have served as the basis for other tools and techniques. One of the most prominent techniques, Reason's Swiss Cheese Model (1990), is based on the idea of active and latent failures. Expanding on this idea, the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) was created with the idea to associate contributing factors and errors (Wiegmann & Shappell, 2003).
While HFACS has been frequently applied in the field of aviation in literature, other industry types are under-represented. Seventeen data sources encompassing various industry types were collected and included in this dissertation analysis. …
Production And Characterization Of Aramid Copolymer Fibers For Use In Cut Protection, Jeffrey Moreland
Production And Characterization Of Aramid Copolymer Fibers For Use In Cut Protection, Jeffrey Moreland
All Dissertations
High-performance fibers such as para-aramids are used extensively in gloves for cut protection. However, the inherent cut resistance of these fibers and the relationship between cut resistance and other material properties is not known. To better understand cut resistance at the material level, an experiment was conducted using a lab-scale wet spinning system to produce and characterize aramid copolymer fibers.
To facilitate the use of lab-scale equipment, the experiment was conducted as a four-factor split-plot response surface design. The four treatment factors studied were solvent concentration in the coagulation bath, the amount of salt in the coagulation bath, the degree …
Offshore Wind Power Integration Into The South Carolina Power System, Mountaga Fane
Offshore Wind Power Integration Into The South Carolina Power System, Mountaga Fane
All Theses
The steady state analysis of the impact of offshore wind on the South Carolina power transmission was conducted in three phases of incremental wind energy injection into the system using forecasted base power flow. The simulation of Phase I involved the generation capacity of 80 MW projected for 2014 in state water. The modeling Phases II and III, which will distribute the energy among neighboring utilities, involve a supplementary capacity of 1000 MW projected for 2020 and 2000 MW for 2030 in federal water. In addition to this steady state investigation, a contingency analysis was performed on the power system …
On The Use Of Natural-Mode Basis Functions For Electromagnetic Analysis Of Arbitrary Conducting Surfaces, Joshua Lawrence
On The Use Of Natural-Mode Basis Functions For Electromagnetic Analysis Of Arbitrary Conducting Surfaces, Joshua Lawrence
All Theses
The natural modes defined in the singularity expansion method (SEM) are used as basis functions for the frequency- and time-domain current responses of arbitrary perfect electrically conducting (PEC) surfaces in this work. First, a method of determining the natural frequencies and corresponding modes which employs the electric field integral equation is presented. These quantities are then calculated for several geometries and the currents induced due to an incident plane wave in the frequency and time domains are approximated by a weighted sum of the natural modes. Additionally, the modal weights prescribed by SEM are compared to a set of weights …
Evaluation Of Utility Relocation Costs And Best Management Practices, Michael Reinke
Evaluation Of Utility Relocation Costs And Best Management Practices, Michael Reinke
All Theses
In recent years, the SCDOT has experienced a significant variation in estimated costs for the relocation of utilities on many projects. This has led to cost overruns and caused concerns for the district engineers responsible for the projects. Through meetings with SCDOT personnel and utility company representatives it was determined that a standardized cost estimate form combined with improved change order management and cost management strategies was needed. Recently submitted estimates were analyzed and rated by a panel on multiple criteria to generate a list of 'poor', 'good', and 'excellent' estimates. The 'excellent' estimates provided insight into the development of …
Analysis Of Alternative Manufacturing Processes For Lightweight Biw Designs, Using Analytical Hierarchy Process, Srinath Vijayakumar
Analysis Of Alternative Manufacturing Processes For Lightweight Biw Designs, Using Analytical Hierarchy Process, Srinath Vijayakumar
All Theses
The main objective of the analysis was to investigate the forming of Body in White (BIW) panels using alternative processes most suitable for replacing the conventional press working process in order to achieve a reduction in the total mass of the vehicle body structure. The selection of the alternatives was guided by multi criteria decision making tool, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Here the alternatives were selected based on their relative importance to the different manufacturing attributes considered. The selected processes were applied to the manufacturing of different parts of BIW indicated in the BOM along with suggestion of the …
Molecular Characterization Of Enrichment Cultures That Grow On Tetrachloroethene, 1,2 Dichloroethane And Ethylene Dibromide, Hari Shankar Peethambaram
Molecular Characterization Of Enrichment Cultures That Grow On Tetrachloroethene, 1,2 Dichloroethane And Ethylene Dibromide, Hari Shankar Peethambaram
All Theses
Halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons are among the most common contaminants in soil and groundwater found at hazardous waste sites throughout the United States. Among them are tetrachloroethene (PCE), 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) and ethylene dibromide (EDB). Organohalide respiration of each compound has been reported. However, considerably less information is known about EDB than PCE and 1,2-DCA, including the yield that occurs during growth with EDB as the sole TEA. The main objective of this project was to determine which types of chlororespiring microbes predominate during growth of enrichment cultures when PCE, 1,2-DCA and EDB served as the TEA, and what their yield is. …
Optimizing The Mechanical Properties Of Partially Yttria Stabilized Zirconia With Alumina Additions, Ramanaganapathy Kandaswamy
Optimizing The Mechanical Properties Of Partially Yttria Stabilized Zirconia With Alumina Additions, Ramanaganapathy Kandaswamy
All Theses
Zirconia is one of the extensively studied solid oxide ceramics with respect to its use in various industrial applications like electrolyte in fuel cells, sensors, refractories and exhaust chamber in automobile industry. It can be found from the literature 1-4 that are contradictory results on the mechanical properties when alumina is added. There are several factors like microstructure, phase composition and method of processing that affects the mechanical properties of the material. The focus of this research is to examine how hardness, tensile strength and other properties varies with alumina content and deduce the optimal amount of alumina that is …
Neomycin-Enhanced Carbodiimide Cross-Linking For Glycosaminoglycan Stability In Bioprosthetic Heart Valves, Joshua Leong
Neomycin-Enhanced Carbodiimide Cross-Linking For Glycosaminoglycan Stability In Bioprosthetic Heart Valves, Joshua Leong
All Theses
Valvular heart diseases lead to over 290,000 heart valve replacements worldwide each year, and approximately half of these involve replacement with a bioprosthetic heart valve (BHV) [1]. BHVs exhibit excellent hemocompatibility, but suffer from inadequate long-term durability with most adult implanted valves failing within 12 to 15 years after implantation [2]. Although this may be adequate for some individuals, BHV implantation may be contraindicated in younger individuals to avoid reoperation. Even in elder recipients, valve dysfunction can still cause death or reoperation that could be avoided with increased BHV durability. Therefore, investigation into methods of increasing BHV durability can not …
Assessment And Analysis Of Emotional Intelligence In Engineering Students, Xiaodan Zhou
Assessment And Analysis Of Emotional Intelligence In Engineering Students, Xiaodan Zhou
All Theses
ABSTRACT
Current research on the importance and relevance of the relationship between emotional intelligence and work outcomes has continuously gained momentum since the publication of Daniel Goleman's best seller Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (Goleman, 1995). Professional expertise is no longer the only standard by which to evaluate graduates. 'Soft skills', like emotional intelligence are viewed as effective ways, to distinguish potential high-performance workers and those who will be 'no more than' a worker. This paper made an attempt to correlate emotional intelligence with academic performance of civil engineering students. The emotional capability of the students …
Utilizing Copper(I) Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Huisgen 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition For The Surface Modification Of Colloidal Particles With Electroactive And Emissive Moieties, Parul Rungta
All Dissertations
The development of charge–transporting and fluorescing colloidal particles that can be directly printed into electroluminescent devices may result in a broad impact on the use of electrical energy for illumination. The objective of this work was to design and synthesize electroactive & fluorescing colloidal particles; establish their optical, electronic, and thermodynamic properties; and transition them into a device format for potential applications. The original intended application of this work was to build “better” colloidally–based organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) by creating functional particles with superior electrical and optical performance relative to commercially available technologies, but through the course of the …
Molecular Physics Of Electrical Double Layers In Electrochemical Capacitors, Guang Feng
Molecular Physics Of Electrical Double Layers In Electrochemical Capacitors, Guang Feng
All Dissertations
At present, electrochemical capacitors (ECs) are emerging as a novel type of energy storage devices and have attracted remarkable attention, due to their key characteristics, such as high power density and excellent durability. However, the moderate energy density of ECs restricts their widespread deployment in everyday technology. To surmount this limitation, four strategies are adopted: (1) to reduce the total system mass, (2) to increase the specific surface area of electrodes, (3) to enhance normalized capacitance, and (4) to expand the range of potentials applied on electrodes. The implementation of these approaches critically relies on the fundamental understanding of physical …
Sensitivity Analysis Of Uranium Speciation Modeling In Groundwater Systems With A Focus On Mobility, Andrew Scott
Sensitivity Analysis Of Uranium Speciation Modeling In Groundwater Systems With A Focus On Mobility, Andrew Scott
All Dissertations
Uranium is an important natural resource used in production of nuclear reactor fuel and nuclear weapons. The mining and processing of uranium has left a legacy of environmental contamination that remains to be addressed. There has been considerable interest in manipulating the oxidation state of uranium in order to put it into an environmentally immobile form. Uranium forms two stable oxidation states in nature, uranium (IV) being much less soluble than uranium (VI), and therefore the preferred state with regard to limiting the potential exposure of man. One of the tools used in evaluating potential effects of manipulating the natural …
Synthesis, Stabilization, And Characterization Of Metal Nanoparticles, Gregory White Ii
Synthesis, Stabilization, And Characterization Of Metal Nanoparticles, Gregory White Ii
All Dissertations
Wet chemical synthesis techniques offer the ability to control various nanoparticle characteristics including size, shape, dispersibility in both aqueous and organic solvents, and tailored surface chemistries appropriate for different applications. Large quantities of stabilizing ligands or surfactants are often required during synthesis to achieve these nanoparticle characteristics. Unfortunately, excess reaction byproducts, surfactants, and ligands remaining in solution after nanoparticle synthesis can impede application, and therefore post-synthesis purification must be employed. A liquid-liquid solvent/anti-solvent pair (typically ethanol/toluene or ethanol/hexane for gold nanoparticles, GNPs) can be used to both purify and size-selectively fractionate hydrophobically modified nanoparticles. Alternatively, carbon dioxide may be used …
Order Picking And Storage Using Stackable Pallets In A Warehouse, Ahmed Hassan Aly
Order Picking And Storage Using Stackable Pallets In A Warehouse, Ahmed Hassan Aly
All Dissertations
Quarter Billion dollars could be saved annually by double stacking pallets. A forklift storing 100 double stacked pallets saves 2.5 working hours versus single pallets. More than one billion pallets and cases handled between Wal-Mart distribution centers according to BEA White Paper (2006) [1], assume only 500 million were stackable pallets. This translates to 12.5 million working hours. If a forklift driver earns $20 per hour, then $250 million can be saved.
Moreover, handling double stacked pallets takes up to 46 % of total time to pick and store. This is a significant element that was ignored in literature. All …
Pulsed-Laser Direct Writing Of Biological Materials, Yafu Lin
Pulsed-Laser Direct Writing Of Biological Materials, Yafu Lin
All Dissertations
Laser direct writing, developed based on modified laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT), has been emerging as one of the most promising biofabrication techniques. While some studies have been conducted to investigate laser direct writing of biological materials, there are some key challenges such as mechanisms of bubble formation, droplet formation and process-induced cell injury that have not been well elucidated. The objective of this dissertation is to study laser-induced droplet formation dynamics and process-induced cell injury in pulsed-laser direct writing of biological materials, and improve the existing laser direct-write techniques.
Phase explosion is identified as the dominant bubble formation mechanism in …
Modulated Properties Of Fully Absorbable Bicomponent Meshes, Shawn Peniston
Modulated Properties Of Fully Absorbable Bicomponent Meshes, Shawn Peniston
All Dissertations
Current meshes used for soft-tissue repair are mostly composed of single component, nonabsorbable yarn constructions, limiting the ability to modulate their properties. This situation has left the majority of soft tissue repair load-bearing applications to suffer distinctly from undesirable features associated, in part, with mesh inability to (1) possess short-term stiffness to facilitate tissue stability during the development of wound strength; (2) gradually transfer the perceived mechanical load as the wound builds mechanical integrity; and (3) provide compliance with load transfer to the remodeling and maturing mesh/tissue complex. The likelihood of long-term complications is reduced for fully absorbable systems with …
A Study Of The Statistics Of The Air/Water Interfacial Temperature Field During Mixed Convection Heat Transfer, Jie Kou
All Dissertations
Heat transfer across an air/water interface is of particular importance to limnology, oceanography and some industrial applications. The relationship between the statistics of the air/water interfacial temperature field and the interfacial heat flux is poorly understood, particularly for the mixed convection condition, which is a common heat transfer mechanism for small inland lakes. The few studies that have been conducted under mixed convection conditions have been limited to an uncontrolled surfactant condition (tap water). Therefore, in this dissertation research two sets of experiments for wind speeds from 0 to 4 m/s were conducted: controlled surfactant contaminated conditions (with oleyl alcohol) …
Studies Relevant To The Design Of Reliable Automotive Electronics, Hua Zeng
Studies Relevant To The Design Of Reliable Automotive Electronics, Hua Zeng
All Dissertations
This dissertation describes three independent studies related to the design of reliable automotive electronics. The topics covered are: the estimation of the radiated emissions from power bus structures, EM propagation of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), and examinations of corrosion-induced faults in a connector.
The first chapter describes a method for estimating the maximum possible radiated emissions from a printed circuit board power bus. An analysis based on a lossy cavity model is performed to determine the maximum possible radiated field corresponding to a given power bus noise voltage. A closed-form expression relating the maximum power bus noise voltage to …